Member Article

Removing and disposing of hazardous waste - A Business

The disposal of hazardous waste is no laughing matter. If it isn’t done correctly, it can harm the local environment, the people disposing of it and your business. If you are not sticking to the law and ensuring your staffs are carrying out their waste disposal duties correctly, you could be liable.

Cover your back

If you are in charge of a business that deals with removing and disposing of hazardous waste, you need to ensure that you have trained all your staff up on the subject. That includes everything from how it is disposed, to highlighting the repercussions if they do not follow the strict guidelines. Your business should have a set procedure that covers hazardous waste disposal and it should be made available for staff to read if they feel unsure or need to refresh their memory.

Know the law

You will need to be familiar with the law of hazardous waste disposal yourself before you can start explaining the regulations to your staff. For a start, you need to be registered as a hazardous waste producer and have a permit for it. You also need to keep records of your hazardous waste, whether it is received by your business from elsewhere, or whether you create the waste yourself. There are strict controls on the collection and the movement of hazardous waste so ensure you read through all of the legal requirements carefully. Make these available to the rest of your colleagues and test their knowledge to ensure they are compliant.

Signage

If your business does create or have possession of hazardous waste, you need to ensure it is correctly labelled as such. This is a legal requirement and can prevent serious injuries, or even death, if something were to go wrong. Similarly, you’ll need to use properly licensed vehicles to ensure you stick to regulations. It can often be easier to enlist the services of a professional waste disposal company to deal with the removal of hazardous waste. This will save you time and also offer you the peace of mind that everything is within the law and being handled by experts.

Cutting corners

While it can be tempting to cut corners and not stick to the law, there are serious consequences. The Sentencing Council wants the toughest possible sentences for both companies and individuals who commit waste crimes. That includes everything from fly-tipping to breaching waste permits. While this might not seem like much of an issue, it could actually result in your company receiving massive fines if you break the law. The fines are designed to be a deterrent to stop you from repeatedly breaking the law so you need to be prepared for a nasty shock if you decide not to follow regulations. Depending on the seriousness of the crime, you can even face a prison sentence. This may not only ruin your personal life, but it could also cause you to lose your business altogether. Think carefully before you decide to break the law. It’s not really worth it in the long run.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Satyajit Seal .